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Woman jailed for giving drug to 19-year-old driver approved for work release

The Associated Press

BRENTWOOD (AP) — A New Hampshire woman jailed for giving a drug to a 19-year-old woman in 2013, hours before the teen drove into some bicyclists, killing two, has been approved for a work release program a month before she's to be released on parole.

Police said Cindy Sheppard gave fentanyl to Darriean Hess after Hess was pulled over for speeding in Hampton. Hours later, the unlicensed Hess was speeding in the same stretch of road when she crossed the center line. Two bicyclists from Massachusetts died.

Sheppard pleaded guilty and was sentenced last year to two-to-six years in jail. The Portsmouth Herald reports she had 330 days of pretrial confinement credit, allowing her to be released this summer.

Hess pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison.